Historically, DNA tests have been prohibitively expensive and inaccessible. However, with the advances in technology they have become readily available through kits for purchase online. These tests can definitely be completed for fun to learn more information about your relatives include regions, languages, and ethnicities.
However, they can also be helpful in providing answers to questions that have been mysteries for years. The following are ways ancestry DNA tests are the most helpful. Ordering and completing one may just be able to provide you with the information you have been seeking.
1. Identifying your relatives
Ancestry DNA tests can help you identify and connect with your distant relatives that you never knew existed. After obtaining your results, you can search for matching DNA on databases maintained by companies. The database contains results of people who have taken the test across the world and consented to having their results made public. If you find people who have matching DNA, chances are that you are related.
Online databases make it simpler for you to find living relatives by providing surnames against the DNA results. You are more likely to find existing relationships with people that you share a surname and a matching DNA.
2. Understanding your ancestry & family history
An easy way to understand your ancestors’ history is by taking an ancestry DNA test. The test can enable you to identify your ancestors. You can do this by comparing your results against the results available online. If your DNA matches the DNA of residents of a particular region, then you most likely share a common ancestry and your family probably originated from that very region.
Ancestry DNA tests can facilitate the study of early migration patterns of your relatives to better understand your ancestry history. You can also learn all the events they were involved in during their migration. The databases contain locations and all the details of the different regions. These can also provide you with historical events that took place in specific regions to help you understand your cultural background and circumstances a lot better.
3. Building your family tree
A family tree can help you track your lineage, understand genetic diseases, and play a role in determining inheritance. An ancestry DNA test can help you map and expand your family tree.
The test allows you to compare your results against the records available on the database. Through the people you have a matching DNA with, you can find other people you are related to. This way you further discover a branch of your family tree that you never imagined existed.
Millions of family trees are available from the online records. Comparing your family tree with others available can help you to discover new relations. The family trees also have specific surnames. You can compare your family tree to the family trees you share a surname with to understand your family tree better and see which other names you are related to.
4. Understanding your ancient roots
Knowing your area of origin has become easier thanks to ancestry DNA tests. The online databases contain geographic details of different regions around the world. Your tests results are compared against reference samples from different areas. A breakdown of your ethnicity is then created to show you the population that you match. The population that matches explicitly with your DNA results is likely to be the area your ancestors might have originated from.
There is also a breakdown of different areas including their ancient and modern history. You can even get to learn new things about the place that might have been the home to your ancestors.
